Prep Roundup, Oct. 30

The Hilton Head Prep girls cross country team finished fifth Saturday in the SCISAA Class 3-A championships at Heathwood Hall in Columbia, while junior Sarah Garratt finished less than two seconds from winning the individual title.

Sydney Hazel of Pinewood Prep came in with a time of 19 minutes, 40.5 seconds in the 5-kilometer race, with Garratt closing fast and crossing the line 1.96 seconds later.

"Of course Sarah was disappointed, but this will simply motivate her for next season," Prep coach Liz Nash said. "Sarah's had a phenomenal season."

Ashley Hall won the girls team title. Pinewood Prep took second.

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Class 3-A Lower State qualifying: A mere formality, the Hilton Head High and Bluffton boys and girls assured themselves of a place at next weekend's Class 3-A state meet by finishing among the top 12 teams in Saturday's Lower State qualifying meet at the Sandhills Research Center in Columbia.

The Hilton Head High boys and girls both placed first. The Seahawks were two points from having a perfect score in the boys event.

Bluffton's girls took second and the boys were third. Jennifer Giles led the way for the Bobcat girls, finishing eighth in a time of 20 minutes, 45 seconds. Anthony Vecchio was the first non-Seahawk to finish in the boys race, taking fifth in a time of 16:35.

The state meet -- which also will be held at Sandhills -- gets under way at 8 a.m. Saturday with the Class 3-A girls. The boys race is scheduled for 8:30 a.m.